People like Marie struggle with juggling the costs of rent and all other essential needs and find themselves in a position to have to choose between shelter or food. Everyone is deserving of a home regardless of their demographics, where they live, or what their financial situation may be. For this reason, United Way Centraides across the country are taking action to build a more equitable future by tackling the housing crisis. We do this by designing and leading programs, providing shelter, and enabling community organizations through collaboration and funding. This past October, the United Way of Chatham-Kent, with partners from the Indigenous community and nonprofit housing sector participated in creating Bringing Affordable Housing Home: an action plan for housing stability in Ontario. The action plan includes seven solutions-focused recommendations to all levels of government to grow housing stability. The initiative is led by United Way of Greater Toronto.
United Way Halifax has helped fund housing support organizations like Welcome Housing, Public Good, and The North Grove to address homelessness in Nova Scotia. Alongside partners, service providers, and community groups, United Way Halifax is also working on establishing a community land trust that will make housing more equitable and affordable in the long term. Through the “100 More Homes Penticton,” United Way British Columbia and community partners were able to provide housing for 133 people and counting through a 3-year Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Penticton to collaborate around homelessness and non-market housing planning.
The depth of the housing crisis is glaring when new African refugee claimants and asylum seekers have been forced to sleep on the streets of Toronto upon arrival due to the lack of available, local shelters. To address the situation, United Way Greater Toronto announced over $415,000 in grants to support African resettlement. While these interventions are helping many struggling with homelessness, it is evident that there is a dire need for long-term systemic solutions for housing across our country.
National Housing Day is an occasion to reflect on the state of housing in Canada and spark conversations and action towards alleviating the ongoing crisis affecting most communities. To bolster the work of community organizations and make progress against a more equitable future for all communities across Canada, we urge the Government of Canada to increase investments in affordable housing, adequate income and employment supports, and other community services.
Housing is a human right, not a commodity. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that everyone has a place to call home.